Sandoval's shot lifts Giants in 10th

Updated 12:04 am, Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Pablo Sandoval (lower left) is mobbed after hitting a two-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning. The Giants had tied the game with two outs in the ninth.

Pablo Sandoval (lower left) is mobbed after hitting a two-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning. The Giants had tied the game with two outs in the ninth.

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Image 2 of 8

Matt Cain allowed runs early, but settled in nicely to keep the Giants in the game against Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg.

Matt Cain allowed runs early, but settled in nicely to keep the Giants in the game against Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg.

Photo: Jason O. Watson, Getty Images

Image 3 of 8

San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval celebrates after hitting a two-run home run off of Washington Nationals pitcher Yunesky Maya during the tenth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The Giants won 4-2 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) less

San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval celebrates after hitting a two-run home run off of Washington Nationals pitcher Yunesky Maya during the tenth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Image 4 of 8

San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval celebrates after hitting a two-run home run off of Washington Nationals pitcher Yunesky Maya during the tenth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The Giants won 4-2 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) less

San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval celebrates after hitting a two-run home run off of Washington Nationals pitcher Yunesky Maya during the tenth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Image 5 of 8

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) high fives teammates in the dugout after finishing the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) less

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) high fives teammates in the dugout after finishing the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Image 6 of 8

San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain, left, meets with catcher Buster Posey during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) less

San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain, left, meets with catcher Buster Posey during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Image 7 of 8

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy watches from the dugout during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy watches from the dugout during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo: Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

Image 8 of 8

Sandoval's shot lifts Giants in 10th

1 / 8

Back to Gallery

Pablo Sandoval felt like hell, and not because his teammates gave him the same kidney shots he administers when one of them ends a game with a hit. Sandoval was so sick, he took intravenous fluids before Tuesday night's big matchup between Matt Cain and Stephen Strasburg.

It's funny how much better a player feels after he hits a ball from here to dang near eternity to win a ballgame. Sandoval was glowing, maybe from joy, maybe from fever, and smiling after his two-run homer in the 10th inning gave the Giants a 4-2 win and a series victory over the Nationals.

"I don't know, man," Sandoval said, when asked how he could be that sick yet play 10 innings and hit what might have been his longest homer at AT&T Park, to Barry Bonds country in right-center field.

"It's effort," he said. "You have to give 100 percent no matter what because it's your job to fight."

The fight would have been lost had Gregor Blanco not hit an RBI triple off closer Rafael Soriano when the Giants were trailing 2-1 in the ninth and down to their last strike.

Or, had Cain not steadied himself after allowing two first-inning runs and kept the Giants in the game against Strasburg, who was tough.

Each starter struck out seven in seven innings, but Strasburg allowed only one run. Blanco scored it after one of his two singles against Strasburg. Cain moved Blanco over with a nice bunt on a fastball riding toward his hands, and Angel Pagan singled him home.

This was one of those landmark wins that the Giants will remember weeks and months hence, not just from the excitement of Sandoval's second career walk-off homer - the other was against the Nationals, too - but also in light of recent events.

One night earlier, they lost starter Ryan Vogelsong for up to two months with a broken right hand, adding injury to the insult of an error-ridden 1-5 trip. Not coincidental to Tuesday night's win, the Giants played their first errorless game since the last homestand.

"That's the thing about baseball," Cain said. "There are so many games and so many injuries that come about. But there's a game the next day, and you can't sit around and think about it. It was hard to see Vogey go down. We're glad things look like they should be OK. You have to move on really fast, and the guys did that."

Marco Scutaro extended his hitting streak to 19 games with an eighth-inning double when it looked as though he was down to his last strike, then roped a one-out single to center to start the winning rally against rookie Yunesky Maya.

Jeremy Affeldt got the win with a 1-2-3 tenth after Sergio Romo's 1-2-3 ninth. Just-recalled Jean Machi made a huge pitch in the eighth, getting Ian Desmond to hit a dribbler in front of the mound with two outs and runners on the corners, keeping it a one-run game.

"It was a great comeback," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It has to do a lot for the club coming off a just horrible road trip. We've played well here in two games against a good ballclub."

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.